LIGNA, held in Hannover Messe on May 26-30, is the undisputed leader in its field. Whether it’s wood-based panels production, surfacing, sawmilling, forestry, furniture production or timber construction, there is a machine or a system – with innovation and new launches the order of the day. Whether the need is custom or mass production, there is a solution for every requirement.
A strong level of registrations for the trade show is particularly encouraging: at the beginning of March, 1,337 exhibitors had registered for the anniversary edition, which means that the number of exhibitors at this year’s LIGNA has surpassed the previous event (1,288 exhibitors in 2023).
Traditionally, two-thirds of the exhibiting companies come from abroad, while one-third are based in Germany. In terms of exhibition space, 112,772m2 are currently booked (2023: 113,937m2) – an unexpectedly strong result given the current economic climate.
“The 50th anniversary of LIGNA certainly makes this edition special, but the exceptionally high level of exhibitor interest is truly overwhelming,” said Stephanie Wagner, head of LIGNA at Deutsche Messe.
“Together with The VDMA Woodworking Machinery Association, we as organisers are thrilled for the industry, which stands united and sends a clear signal of commitment to LIGNA. We are confident that the product innovations and the strong motivation of all exhibitors will help drive the industry’s turnaround at LIGNA, while also positively influencing visitors’ willingness to invest,” added Ms Wagner.
Ms Wagner said the exceptionally strong turnout was not something organisers had necessarily expected given the general economic environment and the extremely tense situation in the woodworking and wood processing industry.
“New US tariffs and international countermeasures are creating significant risks for numerous industries – and LIGNA is not immune to these developments,” said Ms Wagner.
“Yet in its more than 50-year history, the trade fair has repeatedly proven that it can serve as a driver of innovation and a point of orientation even in difficult times. With the focus topic “SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION,” LIGNA offers an ideal platform not only to discuss risks, but above all to actively seize the opportunities of a new era,” added Ms Wagner.
“Where global business relations come under pressure, LIGNA focuses on sustainable and resilient perspectives. This year, our exhibitors will demonstrate under the focus topic ‘SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION’ that wood, as a renewable raw material, is the key to an environmentally conscious and competitive future.”
MEDIA PREVIEW
TTJ attended the official LIGNA Media Preview event in Hannover during February, together with the woodworking press from all over the world.
LIGNA, which attracts around 100,000 people every two years, sees many exhibitors time their innovation and new product launch cycles around the show, and it’s a bellwether of industry sentiment.
Weinig, Fagus-GreCon, Homag and Into Chemicals were among companies present at the preview to communicate their wood-based panels industry innovations to the press.
The three key themes of LIGNA 2025 are Connectivity, Sustainable Production, and Engineered Wood – and are specifically designed to engage stakeholders across the woodworking community, including industry, trade, and forestry.
“LIGNA is currently almost at the same level as the previous event,” said Dr Jochen Köckler, chairman of the Executive Board, Deutsche Messe AG, speaking at the media Preview event.
“In view of the economic conditions, we are very grateful to everyone involved for their confidence in LIGNA,” he said.
“We are convinced that the world’s leading trade fair for the industry will ensure greater productivity and sustainability through fantastic innovations and thus provide the much-needed motivation and confidence for investments.”
Deutsche Messe said industry experts and market observers believe that the woodworking and wood processing industry – under pressure in recent months, particularly in Europe – could see a recovery in the second half of the year.
However, ongoing economic challenges are fuelling uncertainty and eroding business confidence. Unclear political developments and their economic impact have also led to delays in crucial investment decisions.
European woodworking machinery production was worth €3.6bn in 2024, a 15% reduction from the €4.2bn recorded in 2023, with 2025 expected to be similar to last year.
Germany is a key exporter of woodworking machinery. Its exports were 11.6% down in 2024, with the US, China and France being the top three export destinations. The UK was the eighth biggest market for German machinery makers, at just under €100m.
Markus Hüllmann, chairman of Germany’s Woodworking Machinery Association (VDMA), reported demand from the wood industries, with many projects in the pipeline but delays in clients giving the final goahead.
He said product diversification, hiring of tech-savvy workers and managing production more efficiently were very important for woodworking companies.
“Hardly any exhibitor skips LIGNA – and for good reason,” said Dr Bernhard Dirr, managing director of the VDMA.
“Especially in challenging times, direct dialogue with customers is crucial to generating new investment momentum through innovative solutions. LIGNA is the platform where pioneering technologies are presented to an international audience of experts. And it’s not just manufacturers who cannot afford to miss this opportunity – customers, too, must be there, as the future course of the industry is set right here in Hannover.”
Thijs Meijerink, material and technology engineer, IKEA, gave a presentation on AI at the LIGNA Preview, sharing opportunities and challenges for the woodworking sector.
The wood product industries, he said, had statistically fewer employees under the age of 35 than many other industry small and medium sized enterprises. This meant less inflow with new ideas, technologies and AI.
But benefits were there for those that embraced AI/improved data processes, helping build insight into the workings of companies.
LIGNA.CIRCULAR
“Thinking in circles” is the motto of the second new format, LIGNA.Circular. It will be integrated into the programme of the LIGNA. Stage in hall 12 and realised in collaboration with CADEMI, the LIGNA.Circular-partner.
A total of six themed islands, located around the stage and occupied by several partners, will highlight different aspects of circular value creation across various industries throughout the trade show week. The focus will be on sustainable innovations in processes, materials, and products. Necessary adjustments for future co-operation within the industry and the transformation of business models will be discussed under the key themes of co-operation, innovation, servitisation, and transformation. The media partner of LIGNA.Circular is HK – Holz- und Kunststoffverarbeitung from DRW-Verlag.
For example, individual best-case studies on innovations in machines and processes will be presented under the roof of the VDMA on the topic of ‘Machines’ – including examples from Dieffenbacher. The Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe eV (FNR) will provide insights into ‘Material flows of wood’.
“At LIGNA.Circular, Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe is adding an exciting focus with the topic ‘Material flows of wood’,” said Dr Andreas Schütte, managing director at Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe eV. “Our goal is to highlight current developments in the supply and use of wood, while also emphasising important research activities in the field of efficient wood usage within the framework of the circular economy.”
The Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research (WKI) and the Association of the German Wood-Based Panel Industry (VHI) are focusing on ‘Circularity in wood-based materials. The Timber Construction Research Centre, supported by the Institute for Building Construction and Timber Construction at TU Braunschweig, will showcase various project presentations. The Association of the German Furniture Industry (VDM) will also present current approaches.
EXHIBITORS
In the halls of Hannover Messe, there are the following focus areas –
- Halls 11 – 15 and 27 | Tools & Machinery for Custom & Mass Production
- Halls 25 – 26, Open-air Site | Energy from Wood
- Hall 26 | Wood Based Panel Production
- Open-air Site & Pavilions | Machinery for Forestry, Roundwood & Sawn timber Production
- Hall 16 | Machine Components and Automation Technology
- Halls 16 + 17 | Surface Technology
- Hall 25 | Sawmill Technology
Here is a sample of Ligna news from key wood technology exhibitors:
For SCM, LIGNA will mark the 50th anniversary of the company’s presence at the trade fair, demonstrating how the combination of technology, specialist advisory and digital innovation can transform any challenge into a growing opportunity.
New exhibits include the new CNC machining centre “oikos xs 650” for timber construction, offering improved performance, greater productivity and flexibility when processing beams of cross-section up to 650x310mm.
Also launching is SCM’s “topset xxl” throughfeed moulder for solid wood machining, expanding SCM’s automatic throughfeed moulders, with spindle speeds of up to 12,000rpm.
Homag’s vast stand at LIGNA will also feature Group companies SYSTEM TM, KALLESOE, and WEINMANN to demonstrate compatible solutions. Under the motto Building living spaces, the Homag stand will dominate Hall 14.
With the new SAWTEQ S-200 flexTec, HOMAG is opening up new panel cutting possibilities for numerous companies: The first entry-level robot saw model is making high-tech automation accessible for medium-sized companies. The hybrid concept combines manual flexibility with robotassisted efficiency.
With the EDGETEQ P-200 for the joinery trade, HOMAG promises to take digital edge printing, customisation, efficiency and creativity to a new level.
In Hall 27, Salvamac will unveil for the first time a new push-fed cross-cut saw featuring a completely innovative loading system, both technically and functionally.
Among the featured machines are the new Legend 500, Legend 550, and Legend 600, innovative semi-automatic cross-cut saws that complement the best-selling SalvaPush_2000, an automatic optimising saw developed from over 20 years of experience. Salvacut, a highspeed optimising saw capable of processing up to 3,500 linear meters of profiles per hour, will also feature.
Kallfass is another company celebrating 50 years of exhibiting at LIGNA. A stacker was exhibited at LIGNA in the 1970s – Kallfass was one of the pioneers in the stacking of sawn timber.
This year in Hall 25, Kallfass will display a multiple cross-cut saw for unedged goods with four saw aggregates; three of which can be individually positioned. In a live demonstration at the trade fair booth, Kallfass will show how a robot can handle timber fully automatically. (See also feature on p67.)
Also in Hall 25, USNR will demonstrate its latest advances in machine technology solutions for lumber and panel production. Its teams will discuss the latest technologies to improve yield, reduce resource requirements, and expansion of markets. Whether it is production of dimensional lumber, plywood, panels, finger-jointed components or engineered wood products, USNR has a wide array of solutions.
The France-based Finega Group brings together five French manufacturers of sawmill machines and developers of digital IT technologies for the sawmill industry: MEM, GILLET-M1TB, SEGEM, and CIRIS.
With more than a century of experience in the sawmill process, the company’s stand in Hall 25 will cover log yard, debarkers, bandsaw and carriages, circular saws, twin resaw, circular edgers, chippers and profiler, 3D optimisation and scanners. It will communicate leading technologies and AI for sawmills: 5.0 Smart Sawmill.
Finega Group’s sawmill machines are connected to the world of 5.0 Industry through OSIA 5.0 IT solution and STARLINK satellite network.
Solid wood machining specialist Weinig will be celebrating its 120th anniversary at LIGNA. Its show focus will be automation, efficiency and futureproofing. Visitors will experience, among other things, the selfsetting Powermat 3000, the WLP 200 vacuum gantry for fully automatic workpiece handling and the HS 200 with delta robot loading.
Weinig System Solutions will also be presenting innovative production concepts, including a 3D-animated CLT system. With HOLZ-HER, HIT and Essetre, the Weinig Group will be demonstrating its strength as a full-range supplier.
Spark detection and measuring technologies specialist Fagus-GreCon, one of the exhibitors present at the media preview, will highlight smart, remote-capable solutions and systems designed to conserve materials and resources – helping companies cut costs and enhance quality. Visitors can experience the EDGEINSPECT laser-based edge inspection system first-hand.
Into Chemicals, a flame-retardant innovator which is active in a number of industries, will launch a new flameretardant additive for MDF. According to the company, its technology is designed to give treated panels an improved internal bond strength, compared to other FR additives. The company is also active in solid timber flame retardants.
Materials handling will be an important LIGNA feature and Ireland’s Combilift, innovator of the multi-directional forklift, has an extensive stand in the outdoor area, as well as on a stand in Hall 13. The company’s product range, which encompasses small pedestrian stackers, multi-directional forklifts and large straddle carriers, will be well represented at this year’s event.
Around 18 Combilift models will be on show, all of which have been designed for the safe, space saving and productive handling of the various loads that the timber sector needs to lift, transport and store, whether it is at sawmills, furniture manufacturers, timber suppliers, joineries or other companies.
Germany-based Hubtex will also demonstrate materials handling innovations, including its FLUX electric multi-directional counterbalanced truck – a 2-in-1 forklift truck suitable for transporting both long loads and pallets.
The new Hubtex MSL 50 is an electric sideloader developed for the efficient transport of long and heavy loads in outdoor applications. With a load capacity of 5 tonnes and an ergonomic cab, it offers a high level of driving comfort over long distances.
And Hubtex’s MAXX standardised multidirectional sideloader features a particularly high level of ergonomics, with five series available and load capacities from 3 to 6 tonnes.
